You Must Meet My Wife Question- Page 2
You Must Meet My Wife Question
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
#25You Must Meet My Wife Question
Posted: 9/18/12 at 3:08pm
Do you really think Ann loves him? worships him? That Fredrick lives in "So completely demented contented a fashion"? I do think the truth peeps out- as it usually does when one lies compulsively: She is "Unlike a wife" and she does call him "Old dry-as-dust." But she no more keeps his cigars than she ruffles his ties.
#26You Must Meet My Wife Question
Posted: 9/18/12 at 3:22pmI could imagine ruffling his ties and keeping his cigar butts as presumed signs of her devotion to be exactly the sorts of things she would do--in lieu of actually being a loving, giving wife.
#27You Must Meet My Wife Question
Posted: 9/18/12 at 4:51pm
"But she no more keeps his cigars than she ruffles his ties."
If this is the case, then perhaps the cigar butts line illustrates a sort of wish fulfillment on Frederik's part. In which case, the line can still be read as having a sexual subtext. What do you guys think?
henrikegerman
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/29/05
#28You Must Meet My Wife Question
Posted: 9/18/12 at 5:01pm
"Not to put too fine a point on it, but it doesn't sound as though there'd be anything insertable left of the cigar."
Exactly! And Reginald, there not being too fine a point on it is the point. I know of no ash-penetration (I said ash) fetish.
#29You Must Meet My Wife Question
Posted: 9/18/12 at 5:04pm
"So the psychological build of the song is toward the admission of "unfortunately still a virgin," but even after that, he goes on defending her. "
I agree. I think it's too strong to say that Fredrik is trapped in some sort of miserable hellish marriage, as it seems some are implying. The show simply doesn't support that IMHO. I do think Anne feels devoted to Fredrick and appreciates him in her way--obviously it's not a great marriage,and she's more like his ward or even a daughter, and we don't know anything really about Anne's life before him, and Fredirk would be much more happy with Desiree, but...
Reginald said: "Also, Fredrik says "She'll watch me puff until it's just ash /
Then she'll save the cigar butt."
Not to put too fine a point on it, but it doesn't sound as though there'd be anything insertable left of the cigar. "
I was forcing myself not to say exactly this, lol. It makes the very idea all the more ridiculous.
#30You Must Meet My Wife Question
Posted: 9/18/12 at 5:15pm
In which case, the line can still be read as having a sexual subtext. What do you guys think?
There are so many other lovely, clever wonderful lyrics in the show that have clever references to sex--why turn something that is clever in an entirely different way into something crude, un-clever and un-Sondheim like?
THIS is what Sondheim sounds like when Sondheim talks about sex:
The funny little games that we played--
Remember?
The unexpected knock of the maid--
Remember?...
What we did with your perfume--
Remember, darling?
The condition of the room
When we were through...
Our inventions were unique--
Remember, darling?
I was limping for a week,
You caught the flu.
I'm sure it was...you.
#31You Must Meet My Wife Question
Posted: 9/18/12 at 5:15pm
In which case, the line can still be read as having a sexual subtext. What do you guys think?
There are so many other lovely, clever wonderful lyrics in the show that have clever references to sex--why turn something that is clever in an entirely different way into something crude, un-clever and un-Sondheim like?
THIS is what Sondheim sounds like when Sondheim talks about sex:
The funny little games that we played--
Remember?
The unexpected knock of the maid--
Remember?...
What we did with your perfume--
Remember, darling?
The condition of the room
When we were through...
Our inventions were unique--
Remember, darling?
I was limping for a week,
You caught the flu.
I'm sure it was...you.
#32You Must Meet My Wife Question
Posted: 9/18/12 at 5:49pm
If Anne is having a sexual awakening, and I do think she is, it has nothing whatsoever to do with Fredrick or his cigars. Just consider the meaning behind the lyrics to Soon...
Soon, I promise,
Soon, I won't shy away,
Dear old--
Soon, I want to.
Soon, whatever you say.
Even now,
When you're close and we touch,
And you're kissing my brow,
I don't mind it too much.
And you'll have to admit I'm endearing,
I help keep things humming, I'm not domineering--
What's one small shortcoming?
And think of how I adore you,
Think of how much you love me.
If I were perfect for you,
Wouldn't you tire of me
Soon,
All too soon,
Dear old--
She's a young girl with a surrogate father figure, adoring him as her provider and protector, awkwardly repulsed by the thought of intimacy with him. She thinks distracting him with thoughts of how endearing and fun to be around she is will keep them in the safe limbo of a non-sexual, charade of a marriage.
The only sexual awakening she has is with Henrick.
#34You Must Meet My Wife Question
Posted: 9/18/12 at 7:40pm
Not to put too fine a point on it, but it doesn't sound as though there'd be anything insertable left of the cigar.
Good old, Regi. Ever the font of common sense and geometry! :)
***
PJ, I think your examples are exactly right. But those are lyrics about people having sex. All references to or by Anne in Act I are about someone NOT having sex. The cigars work as symbols of displaced longing, but not, as you and I agree, as literal sex toys.
#35You Must Meet My Wife Question
Posted: 9/18/12 at 11:21pm
Len Cariou performs "You Must Meet My Wife," in November 2010, at the Laurie Beechman Theater, with a grown-up Victoria Mallory, who originally played his young wife Anne, now older and playing the role of Desiree.
http://youtu.be/x9ne9SpPqb8
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